Homemade Pretzels

At a loss for a fun activity with your kids in the kitchen? This is a fantastic snack and a great rainy day activity. You can buy the dough pre made or make it yourself. The fun part is coming up with the pretzel shapes. Bet your kids can come up with some other fun shapes!(Makes 8 small, 4 medium, or 2 large pretzels)1 pound (approximately) ready-made whole wheat doughWater for boiling2 tablespoons canola oil2 teaspoons kosher salt (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.2. Bring a pot of water to a boil.3. Meanwhile, separate the dough into even size balls (depending on the size pretzel you want).4. Roll each ball of dough out into a long even tube.5. Cross one end of the tube over the other (making the tube into a circle with its ends making an x shape).6. Twist the ends again, making the x shape into a twist.7. Flip the twisted ends into the center of the circle and press the ends onto the circle’s sides.8. Boil the pretzels for 30 seconds then transfer them with a slotted spoon onto a non-stick baking sheet.9. Brush with oil and sprinkle with salt (if desired). Bake in the middle rack of the oven for 10 minutes (depending on the size of the pretzels), or until golden brown.